Multiform envelopes



Oct-14, 1958 J. E. O'BRIEN 2,856,115

MULTIFORM ENVELOPES Filed Aug. 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent MULTIFORM ENVELOPES John E. OBrien, Bethesda, Margaret M. OBrien, exeeutrix of the estate of said John E. OBrien, deceased Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,832

11 Claims. (Cl. 229-921) This invention relates to multiform envelopes and is more particularly concerned with improvements in multiform envelopes of the type described in United States Patent No. 2,158,528, issued May 16, 1939.

An object of the invention is the provision of a multiform envelope of the type described in said patent which makes available a duplicate copy of information for the final or return addressee, or for retention by the first addressee.

Another object is to provide in a multiform envelope of the type mentioned, means for providing personal identification on separate sheets with a single writing.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a multiforrn envelope of the type mentioned an extension member with a transfer substance having a tab portion for holding the extension member in place and means for readily separating the extension member from the main portion and from the tab for providing a duplicate copy of information applied thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of multiform envelopes of the type mentioned made of a single sheet of paper and provided with cut outs, tear lines, transfer areas and adhesive areas arranged to result in the advantages and improvements set forth above.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description considered together with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in its fully folded position for initial mailing.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same embodiment in the folded position.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an obverse plan view of the embodiment in its fully opened position.

Fig. 5 is a reverse plan view of the same embodiment in its fully opened position.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated is a single sheet piece of paper which is cut and delineated to provide a body panel 1, a bottom flap 2, a gummed flap 7, a bottom side panel 8 adjoining the panel 1, and a top or upper side panel 11 adjoining both the panel 8 and a cover flap 12. A special panel 3 is also provided as an extension of the bottom flap 2.

The body panel 1 is provided with adhesive areas 4 and 5 to contact the bottom flap 2 when folded over along the line 6, thereby forming a pocket 9. In this position, the special extension panel 3 overlies the inner face of the cover flap 12. The bottom side of this special extension panel is provided with a carbon transfer area which falls in registry with an area 13 delineated on the cover flap 12 and reserved for personal identification. A corresponding area 14 is provided on the panel 3 on the side thereof opposite the carbon transfer area 10. Also, the panel 11 is provided with a corresponding cut out area 15 which overlies and exposes the area 14 when the panels 8 and 11 are, together, folded along the tear line 16 in a position to overlie the panel 3 and bottom flap 2, respectively.

The cover flap 12 is provided with a gummed mar- 2,856,115 Patented Oct. 14, 1958 "ice ginal area 17 at the top and the panel 3 is provided with a tab extension 18 which overlies this gummed area in the folded position and has a tear line 19 between it and the panel 3.

The panel 3 is separable from the flap 2 along a weakened or tear line 20 therebetween.

When the device is thus folded, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is ready for addressing and mailing. It can be run through an addressograph machine to place the name and address of the addressee on the area 14 as it lies exposed through the cut out part or window 15. This information, when applied by the addressograph machine, is automatically transferred to the area 13 by means of the carbon transfer area 10.

When the device is received by the addressee, it is opened by tearing along the scored line 21. The panels 8 and 11 are then removed and discarded by tearing them off along the tear line 16. The forms on the panels 3 and 12 are then filled in by the addressee. The pocket 9 is used for the reception of money, checks, tickets, stubs, etc. The device is then folded along the lines 22 and 20 which are in registry with each other, to bring the gummed area 17 over and against the bottom marginal edge of the bottom flap 2. This gummed area is first wetted, however, and the tab 18 placed in contact therewith before securing it to the cover flap. The device is now ready for return mailing, the return address being applied beforehand to the outside of the body panel 1.

Upon receipt by the return addressee, it is opened by tearing along the tear line 23. This also has the effect of freeing the panel 3 from the panel 12 because of the severance of the panel 3 from the tab 18 along the tear line 19. The panel 3 is then completely detached by tearing along the tear line 20, thereby permitting it to be retained as a permanent file record apart from the remainder of the device which remainder may be used as desired, such as, for making accounting entries, etc.

The device is particularly useful for making tax returns, such as the employers quarterly tax return for household employees, because it involves a minimum of efiort on the part of the taxpayer and reduces to simplicity the entire operation, without requiring any additional material to be used other than what is furnished by the sender. The device is not, however, limited to tax returns and may be used for any other purposes to which it may be adapted.

Alternately, the device upon receipt by the return addressee may be opened by tearing or cutting along lines 22 and 20 which results in providing direct access to the pocket 9 and any enclosures contained therein and also retaining the panels 3 and 12 in mutually attached relationship through the tab 18 and gummed area 17 to which the tab is adhesively held. In this condition a check can readily be made between the en closures in the pocket and the information on the panels. The device may then be separated into its component record parts for further clerical processing.

The extension panel 3 may be made somewhat shorter and narrower than the panels 1 and 2, as illustrated in the drawing, so that it can be detached and placed in the pocket 9 Without folding as an enclosure for the return addressee. In such cases the tab 18 may be omitted, if desired.

In some instances it is desirable to apply information to the interior of the device in a sealed form and after it has been sealed. A fully folded and sealed form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be furnished by a supplier or manufacturer of such devices and used for bulk mailing, such as billings by a gas, electric or telephone company, in which special information may be added on the interior of the mailing piece for each addressee without disclosing this information on the outside of the mailing piece. This can conveniently be done by adding a carbon or other transfer area 24 on the back orinnerside of the panel 11, such "as adjacent an end of the cut out part 15. Consequently, a dry impression made on the outer face of the ,panel over the area 24 will be effective to imprint on the panel 3 through the medium of the transfer area 24, a legible impression of the information desired. This may be done by the same addressing machine used to apply the address to the panel 3 and at the same time, or it may be done by a separate machine either before or after passing through the addressing machine.

By the term dry impression as used herein, is meant an impression by a form of type or other suitable printing medium without the use of any ink or inked ribbon on the face thereof.

The added transfer area 24 may be placed at any desired position on the innerside of the panel 11 or even on the panel 8. However, by placing it in alignmentwith a portion of the transfer area or some other transfer area, the information may be made to appear on a plurality of places on the interior of the device under a single impression.

-In some instances it may be desired to also include on the exterior the information added to the interior. In such cases the impression, instead of being a dry impression, may be a wet impression, that is, one Where the type or other suitable printing medium has ink applied to it or a ribbon interposed across the face thereof.

The device of this invention has many uses and may be modified to suit any particular situation desired. For example, the panels 8 and 11, if desired, may be dispensed with entirely in some specific instances where the need therefor does not arise and it is to be understood that such a modification is within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The panel 3 may be of a size to fit into the pocket 9, as shown, for any special uses of the device that might require its placement therein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A multiform envelope comprising a body panel,

a bottom flap overlying said body panel, said panel and flap being mutually connected to each other along the bottom edges thereof, means for securing marginal side portions of the bottom flap to the body panel, a cover flap connected to the upper edge of the body panel, a top side panel connected to the cover flap, a bottom side panel connected to the body panel, said side panels being attached to each other, said bottom flap having an extension panel extending over the cover flap, said extension panel having a tab portion adapted to be secured to the cover flap, delineations on the extension panel defining an area for the application of information desired, a transfer substance on the other side of said extension panel opposite said area for duplicating on the cover flap information applied to said area.

2. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 1 in which a portion of the top side panel is cut out leaving a window which falls in registry with the said area when the top side panel is folded over to overlie said extension panel.

3. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 1 in which a tear line is provided for separating the tab member from the extension panel.

4. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 1 in which a tear line is provided between the extension panel and the bottom fiap.

5. A multiform envelope comprising a body panel, a bottom flap overlying said body panel, said panel and flap being mutually connected to each other along the bottom edges thereof, means for securing marginal side portions of the bottom flap to the body panel forming a pocket, a cover flap connected to the upper edge of the body panel, a top side panel connected to the cover flap, a bottom side panel connected to the body panel, said side panels being attached to each other, said bottom flap having an extension panel extending over the cover flap, delineations on the extension panel defining an area for the application of information desired, a transfer substance on the other side of said extension panel opposite said area for duplicating on the cover flap information applied to said area.

6. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 5 in which the extension panel is of a size to fit inside the said pocket.

7. A multiform envelope comprising a body panel, a bottom flap overlying said body panel, said panel and flap being mutually connected to each other along the bottom edges-thereof, means for securing marginal side portions of the bottom flap to the body panel forming a pocket, a cover flap connected to the upper edge of the body panel, a top side panel connected to the cover flap, a bottom side panel connected to the body panel, said side panels being attached to each other, said bottom flap having an extension panel extending over the cover flap, delineations on the extension panel defining an area for the application of information desired, a transfer substance on the other side of said extension panel opposite said area for duplicating on the cover flap information applied to said area.

8. A multiform envelope comprising a body panel, a bottom .fiap overlying said body panel, said panel and flap being mutually connected to each other along the bottom edges thereof, means for securing marginal side portions of the bottom flap to the body panel, a cover flap connected to the upper edge of the body panel, said bottom flap having an extension panel extending over the cover flap, said extension panel having a tab portion adapted to be secured to the cover flap, delineations on the extension panel defining an area for the application of information desired, a transfer substance on the other side of said extension panel opposite said area for duplicating on the cover flap information applied to said area.

9. A multiform envelope comprising a body panel, a bottom fiap overlying said body panel, said panel and flap being mutually connected to each other along the bottom edges thereof, means for securing marginal side portions of the bottom flap to the body panel, a cover flap connected to the upper edge of the body panel, a top side panel connected to the cover flap, a bottom Side panel connected to the body panel, said side panels being attached to each other, said bottom flap having an extension panel extending over the cover flap, said extension panel having a tab portion adapted to be secured to the cover fiap, delineations on the extension panel defining an area for the application of information desired, a transfer substance on the other side of said extension panel opposite said area for duplicating on the cover flap information applied to said area, at least one of said side panels having an additional transfer substance on the inner side thereof.

10. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 9 in which the additional transfer area is in registry with a portion of the transfer substance on the extension panel.

11. A multiform envelope as defined by claim 10 in which the additional transfer area is on the inner side of the top side panel and said top side panel is provided with a cut out portion in registry with a different portion of the transfer substance on the extension panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,528 Sawdon May 16, 1939 2,166,439 Johnson July 18, 1939 2,340,700 SaWdon Feb. 1, 1944 2,600,114 Kerr June 10, 1952 2,678,769 David May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,810 Great Britain 1901 

